Maria Irminger joins us this week with wisdom for artists working with galleries particularly ones run by government. Nice+Good+On Time= three essential things to get a return gig.
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John Paul: Hi. John Paul Fischbach here, CEO and Chief Alchemist of the Auspicious Arts Incubator. I’m in the studio this week with Maria Irminger. Maria comes with a massive amount of experience as a curator, as a facility person coordinating events and things in facilities, working for levels of local government and we were having a chat about this adage that artists have that they say that we teach them that you can be good, nice and on time. Really you picked two but you were saying if you want to work in local government repeatedly it’s all three.
Maria: It’s absolutely all three. On time is absolutely important.
John Paul: Why is it more important?
Maria: Local galleries work with a range of artists and they do a range of events. The handful of people – and that’s generous – usually it’s one or two people who are responsible for a gallery and not only working to that exhibition but are simultaneously working with other artists on other events especially if there’s multiple gallery spaces. If one artist doesn’t keep to their time schedule then everything else blows out. Then the curator gets annoyed. Then people they work with dont like that so it just has this roll on effect and it doesn’t make it pleasant.
Usually Council galleries have got responsibilities also to Council in observing protocols, in observing timelines and if you’re not meeting your timeline then for example the speech to the Council who is going to open your exhibition will be delayed therefore the production of your artist statement or your labels will be delayed. Timelines is really important and if you dont work to your timelines we dont like you and if we dont like you we will spread the word. You need to be on time and you need to be respectful of your timelines.
John Paul: When you’re working with local government being good and nice doesn’t cut it.
Maria: It absolutely cuts it because also you might be on time but if you’re not personable, the position of the gallery is to present the best, to present your exhibition in the best way possible and if you’re making life difficult for them that will spread too so be nice. Be respectful, be respectful of timelines, be respectful of your interaction with the curator or the gallery assistant and make sure that your work is good and the best you can do because we’ll do the best that we can do. In that way everyone wins.
John Paul: The cool thing is when you find someone who’s nice, good and on time you spread that work as well.
Maria: Absolutely. We spread that word wide and far.
John Paul: If that Hot Tip was helpful please subscribe to hear more. If you want real practical advice for your arts business check us out at www.AuspicousArtsIncubator.org.
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